Page 69 of Sweet Possession (Criminal Underground 1)

“You won’t do it,” the man who’d been shot first snapped.

“She doesn’t have to,” Archer said.

“Because we will,” Jensen finished. Then they pulled the trigger.

The man was dead before I could blink. “Still think I’m not being serious?” I asked.

“How about you?” Ian asked, directing the question to the last bouncer.

“If you fucking think of betraying me, Gordon, I’ll make sure your wife ends up as one of my whores!” my father yelled.

The bouncer—Gordon—narrowed his eyes on my father and shook his head. “If you kill him,” he said. “I’d be happy to work for you.”

I smiled. “Good then.” I spun back to my father. “Now, where were we? Oh yes, I believe I wanted to introduce you to a friend of mine.” I put two fingers in my mouth and whistled.

A moment later, the doors to the backroom opened and a tall, dark-haired man in a three-piece suit appeared with two bruisers at his side. They took one look at the men on the floor and bent to scoop them up. “Get rid of the body and take the second to the hospital, please,” I called. They nodded and left the room, leaving the gentleman behind. I watched my father’s face carefully as he realized who now stood before him. The cold, sneering animosity had been replaced by something I knew all too well. Fear.Ah, so the cold-hearted asshole could feel something other than his own self-importance—color me surprised.

“Dad, I wanted to introduce you to Gaven Morano. I think the two of you might know each other; old enemies I do believe.” I grinned as my father’s face grew more and more ashen as Gaven unsnapped his suit coat and grinned my way. The enemy of my enemy was my friend and all that.

“You must be America Perelli,” he said, holding out his hand as I lifted mine. He bent and pressed a kiss to my knuckles, earning three very masculine glares and my wink.

“Down, guys,” I said with a laugh as Archer and Jensen moved closer now that the bouncers were gone. To Gaven, I said, “It’s America Marshall-Travis-Petrov, Mr. Morano. I’m married now.”

“It’s lovely to finally meet you, America,” he said with a wicked grin. “I suppose one of these men is your new husband. Pity you’re taken, but congratulations on the marriage.”

“All of them,” I replied lightly.

He barked out a laugh. “A woman after my own heart. Wolf didn’t tell me you were so daring.” Shaking his head, the golden mixture of his hair swayed with the movement. “Though, I should’ve known by the deal he offered me.”

“Whatdealare you talking about?” my father demanded. “Where the hell are my men?”

I sighed, knowing it was time to finish this. Turning back to him, the thin layer of sweat now coating his forehead didn’t escape my notice. “Gaven has agreed to work with me,” I answered him. “As of tonight, I’ll be taking over this club and all of the others you run. All of your warehouses and every single other business you own now belong to me. Gaven, as I’m sure you’re now aware, is here to ensure that you sign everything over to me.”

“I won’t do it,” he bit out. “I’d rather—”

“Die?” I supplied. “Don’t worry, Gaven will take care of that too.” I laughed. “Should’ve realized how many enemies a man like you would have earlier, but you know how the phrase goes, no time like the present.” Releasing Gaven’s hand, I gestured to him. “I’ve been assured that he’s the best in the business.”

Gaven looked over at my father and smiled while I paused. It wasn’t the kind of smile that exuded happiness or even satisfaction. The smile this man gave was darker, sinister. “Yes,” he replied. “I am.”

“No.” The bastard stumbled back, momentarily forgetting that Ian was there. He shook, trembled, shook again. “No!” Ian caught him with a rough shove, and he went down, falling to the floor alongside my dress. As if realizing all of the horrible shit he’d done in his life had finally caught up with him, sucking the life from him already, he didn’t seem to have the strength to get up. Or perhaps it was shock that kept him on the ground. Whatever the case, it was finally time for me to end things.

“Before I go...” I said, inhaling sharply and holding out my hand to Ian as he rounded the desk again and approached my side. I could feel Archer and Jensen’s gazes on my back but I knew I couldn’t stop despite what I knew their thoughts were on what I was about to do. I needed to do it. To take this final leap.

Ian didn’t immediately hand me the gun, forcing me to turn my cheek and meet his eyes. I nodded when I saw his look.Are you sure?his expression seemed to ask. I knew I wasn't going to kill him; I would leave that honor to Gaven. But Iwouldget my pound of flesh, showing him exactly what I could and would do if I was threatened. If the people I loved were threatened.

As Ian gave me the gun, I absently noted it was heavy in my hand. Ice cold and solid. Its weight and the shock of its temperature kept me grounded to the reality of what I’d chosen to do. Taking one more breath, I spoke. “I wanted to thank you for everything you did for me.” As soon as I finished my sentence, I pointed the weapon and pulled the trigger. A jolt radiated up my arm from the kickback, my grip tensing on the handle to keep it controlled. The residual wave of tension paled in comparison to my father’s screams of agony, the bullet slamming into his shoulder and jerking him back as it pierced through clothing and then flesh. “Thank you.” The last two words left my lips a bit breathlessly as I watched the great and powerful Jason Perelli scream far louder than his bouncers. He rolled, cupping his shoulder as he continued to cry and groan in pain.

All of the former anger, fear, and fury that had resided in me leached away. I handed the Glock back to Ian, and in the next moment, it was gone from sight, but the results of my decision were not. I looked down and noticed the bloodstain at the ends of my skirts. Shaking my head slightly at the sight, I couldn’t stop the smile that flitted at my lips.

“We’ll leave this to you, then?” Ian said, directing his question to Gaven over my head.

“Of course,” Gaven replied, watching my father with an impassive sort of look. There was no pity in his gaze. He could’ve been looking at a blank television screen for all of the emotion he emitted. A part of me wondered where Wolf had found a man such as him, but at the same time, if there was something I was coming to learn in all of this—it was when to ask questions and when to let it all go. And this was me, letting it all go.

I’d made my point. Just before Ian took my hand again, I glanced down at my father one last time and smiled brightly. “Who’s the bitch now?”

Instead of getting a real answer, though, I let Ian, Archer, and Jensen lead me back into the main portion of the club. “Drinks?” Archer asked brightly.

“Martini, please!” I replied with a laugh.

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